Sunway’s theme parks, university to offer more internships
between Sunway Theme Parks (STP) and Sunway University will see more opportunities in internships and other educational programmes being carried out through a series of specially-designed projects.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by STP senior general manager Calvin Ho and Sunway Education Group senior executive director Dr Elizabeth Lee.
Present were Sunway Lagoon general manager Sean Choo and Sunway Lost World of Tambun general manager Nurul Nuzairi Mohd Azahari.
Ho said the collaboration will specifically focus on three key areas, namely the creation of educational programmes, empowering Sunway University students to enhance guest experience at its theme parks and establishing internship opportunities.
The collaboration will also include a series of lectures by multi-disciplinary representatives from STP, which comprises Sunway Lagoon and Sunway Lost World of Tambun.
“It is always exciting to see organisations such as Sunway Theme Parks working with us to enhance the academic experience of students at Sunway University,” said Lee.
“Sunway University and Sunway Theme Parks have developed a long-standing and mutually-beneficial working relationship in the past, and this MoU is yet another natural step in the right direction, of which I am confident that the sum will be greater than the parts,” she said.
Earlier this year, Sunway Lagoon embarked on a first-phase design collaboration with Sunway University’s School of Arts and Design, with the objective of nurturing innovation among students.
The students worked closely with the theme park’s retail team to develop “The Amazing Sunway City” creative merchandise ― a collection of seven product designs to promote retail stores in Sunway Lagoon.
“Performing arts and drama students from Sunway University are also recruited on an annual basis for Sunway Lagoon’s Nights of Fright event,” Ho said.
“A lot of effort goes into the process of creating these horror characters, and the students will undergo an extensive 40-hour ‘Scare Actors’ training programme by experienced international trainers.
“Unlike a Broadway performance, where members of the audience sit back and enjoy the show, the scare actors here have to perform to an audience on a rotating 360º stage, and this requires great interactive skills,” he added.
Sunway Lost World of Tambun has been initiating sustainable development goal programmes, such as the collaboration with Sunway Youth for Sustainable Development Society to build Malaysia’s first man-made Marmoset Island at the theme park using recycled items.
The theme park has also worked with Sunway University to conduct educational environmental workshops to raise awareness on waste management and conservation.